Tag: social media marketing

If you’ve ever heard people talking about making money online and have wondered about how they’re doing it, then it’s probably also crossed your mind at some point that what they’re doing is some kind of big scam and that they’re either being scammed by getting involved in a get rich quick scheme or that they’re knowingly doing something illegal or unethical, when in fact, for the most part, they’re not doing either.

Of course, just like everything else, there are definitely still some scams that exist online, but mostly, these are pretty easy to spot nowadays and those who work from home and make money online are doing so in a legitimate way that really is just the same as making money by working for someone else except that they can do it entirely online because the internet has provided us with the technology to do so.

So, in this post we’re going to share with you some of the best ways to find freelance work online.

Social media:

Using social media is definitely one of the best and fastest ways to market yourself and your new business online and if you’re going to be offering freelance services such as translations, copywriting, graphic design or consulting, then you can do this by just announcing what you’re going to be doing on your own social media profiles and letting people know they should reach out if this is something they either need themselves or if they know someone who needs it.

Additionally, there are also specialized groups on places like Facebook that are full of people looking for these services, so go into those and network by providing value and letting people know about what you do so that you can start getting some clients.

Freelance marketplaces:

Freelance marketplaces definitely don’t have the best reputation, and quite rightly so since a lot of them have been known to be places that really undermine the work of freelancers by allowing everyone to bid on jobs at low rates which has attracted clients who don’t understand the value in certain services. However, not all freelance sites and marketplaces are the same, and many are now making a conscious effort to set themselves apart and not be seen as the bargain basement sites they have been. There are now many that set things like minimum project pricing so that Online Tenders can be made in a more realistic way and that the competition is based on skill and not on price.

Your own website:

Having your own website when you run a business – even if it’s as a freelancer is always going to be a massive plus point in your favor and definitely something that you should be considering because it’s a great way to build relationships with people and also you own your website unlike social media or other freelance sites that you can be removed from or that can go out of business, and since it’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket – especially not in business, then having your own website just makes good sense.

There’s no doubt that it has become more and more tempting for more and more people to walk away from the more standard employment models and start their own businesses. This can often be a wonderful thing. After all, being able to get out from under your employer’s thumb and take control of your life by doing something you’re really passionate about is one of the best things you could possibly do with your career. That being said, there’s no doubt that it’s also going to be a serious challenge and if you’re not ready for that fact then you could end up in trouble. With that in mind, here are a few things that every new business owner needs to know if they really want to succeed.

What resources you need

There are so many things that you need in order to run any kind of business and the most common mistake that a lot of people make right at the start is that they don’t really pay attention to what those things are. Sure, you need an internet connection and a computer to set up pretty much any kind of business. But what kinds of social media sites are best for your business? Do you need software for creating invoices? Are you going to be printing a lot of stuff and if so how much is that costing you? A company like 123Inkjet Cartridges can help bring the costs of something like that down but you need to make the same considerations for every aspect of your business. Otherwise, you could end up losing a whole lot of money.

Where the money is coming from

Speaking of money, there is no doubt that it is one of the most essential ingredients for any business. Even as owning your own business has become more and more accessible you still need to think about how you’re going to fund it before you start to turn a profit. From putting in your own money to taking out a business loan to crowdfunding your business, there are plenty of different ways to raise the money you need, you just need to be sure that you’re using the right ones.

How to keep your life balanced

Maintaining a decent work-life balance might not be the first thing that a lot of people think about when it comes to running any kind of business but the truth is that there are a lot of serious risks involved in letting your business take over too much of your life. Make sure that you know when to step away so that you don’t end up letting it take over a great deal of your life.

The reality is that running a business might be one of the most exciting and fulfilling things that you will ever do but it’s also something that is incredibly challenging and difficult. If you’re not willing to push yourself to keep going even when things get really challenging, you’re never going to be able to take your great idea and turn it into a truly successful business that allows you to earn a living doing something that you really care about.

There’s no shortage of wannabe students out there, who are eager to find a college and course they’re attracted to, give it their all, and walk away later on down the line with the tools and credentials they need to go out into the world and make a success of themselves. However, while there might be a lot of prospective students each year, there are also a lot of colleges. There are more than five thousand currently in operation, and while they might specialize in different areas, there’s no getting around the fact that that’s a lot of competition. So how do colleges stand out from the crowd, and entice students to their school? We take a look below.

Word of Mouth

Wannabe students don’t always know what they want to do with their life, but they know it when they see it. If they can point to someone older than them and think “I want to be like that guy/girl,” then that’s a pretty motivational tool when it comes to taking action. When it comes to colleges, prospective students can learn about the type of people they might become by looking at what the alumni are doing. Colleges often reach out to successful past students and ask them to write blogs, or if they include their story in their prospectus guide.

Social Media Pages

If you want to target the younger generation with your school, then you need to go where they hang out. That, more often than not, is the online world, and specifically social media. Schools partner with companies such as CPL Advertising Agency, and target set demographics with advertisements via Facebook and other social media websites. Research has shown that teenagers spend around nine hours a day online, which gives them plenty of opportunities to see an ad for their potential next school.

Moral Codes

One of the most impressive things about the younger generation is that they’re generally more socially conscious than older generations. They care about the environment, they care about equality, they care about the important issues in a way that mimics — probably even exceeds — the social consciousness of the sixties. As such, young people want more from their schools than just an education. They want to know that the school isn’t taking money from organizations that have morally questionable practices, and that they’re tolerant of anyone and everyone. Colleges who showcase their commitment to a better world will find that they have more interest from prospective students.

Tech Integration

We said before that students spend a lot of time online, and they do — this is a tech-infused generation, the first one that grew up with a tablet or smartphone in their hand. As such, they’re much more likely to be attracted to schools that don’t just possess modern technology, but ones that are on the cutting edge of tech and all its related services. These kids are looking to the future, not the past, so it’s important that schools reflect this ideology too.

As a small business taking those first crucial steps into the industry, one of the hardest things for you to do is pull in a real audience who will want to engage with your brand and who will want to spread the word about you. Marketing for a small a business is always a challenge for you to achieve and today we are going to take a look at some of the free and low cost ways you can do this this year.

Create a website

The first step to creating a great marketing plan for your newly launched business is to create a website which people can visit which will tell them about who you are and what you provide. A website is like the window to the soul of your business and it can be a great tool for you to have. With website creators such as Wix you are able to create your site for free and this will allow you to gain recognition online without spending a penny.

Make flyers

Marketing seems to be becoming more and more complex every single day, but sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is being it back to basics and keep things old school. Big marketing agencies will still create flyers and brochures to email and post to their customers, and although this will cost a little bit of money, the overall cost of creating flyers for a postal drop is much less than it would cost to advertise yourself on a billboard or a bus stop. It can be the best decision you make for your business because you will be able to make an impression with local customers.

Use social media

Social media is the number one free tool you should be taking advantage of as a business, and to really find a loyal audience you need to be active online in a professional and a social way. Interacting with customers online through social media can be a brilliant way to show off your personality and this will make people want to choose you over your competition. Think for example about sharing posts to promote your products, posts which celebrate certain holidays and even the release of films. As a social media marketer you can go beyond your professional mask and really interact as a human, and this can be exactly what you need.

Get recording

If you want to make a big impression on your customers and you are unsure where you begin, one of the things you can consider is creating videos. Recording a video on your phone or a camera costs nothing and you can share tips and tricks, recipes, stories and other things. Sharing these online with the right people will earn you a loyal following and this is a real way to grow without spending a ton on marketing.

Email email email

If you want to keep it classic and simple there is nothing better than an email. Emails cost nothing to make; they are effective and you can stay in contact with many people at once.

When it comes to hiring it doesn’t matter if you are recruiting for your large company or just because you are a freelancer need some help in the day to day running of things. Sometimes making the wrong hiring decision can have a massive impact on your business goals and progress.

Although you can ever be 100% sure about the person you have hired until they have been working with you for a while, there are a few tips that you can use to try and be pretty confident you got it right the first time.

Be Clear

Often there can be a miscommunication about what the role really involves. Leading people with about a 70% skills match applying for the position. Whose fault is this? Well, yours actually. When you are writing out the job description, you need to make sure that as well as making it appealing, you are actually writing down the skills in your ideal candidate. Be clear on the following:

Spread The Word

Now there is so many websites that people look for work it is worth remembering that you should be aiming to have your listing on as many as possible. The talented person you are looking for might be a night owl living in Australia, or the might be an early bird in Mexico. The more bases you cover, the more likely you are to find the right person for the position.

The Extras Count

When it comes to personality, that is what you will be working alongside. The skill, of course, will matter, but if you can get along with someone who doesn’t have all of the skills but is almost there the chances are you will work better together in the long run.

When you are looking over the CVs be sure to read the cover letter to get an idea of who they are in their everyday life. Have they written the typical answer of ‘I like to spend time with friends and family’ for what they do outside of work, or have they written something more interesting?

References

There are rules now as to what a previous employer can and cannot say about an ex-employee, however, if there were any real issues they will be able to identify them and let you know. Make the time to email or call the people that are listed as references. Have a look at what their previous employers do as well, you can begin to build a great profile of this person.

Interviews

Aside from ensuring that they are who they say they are, you should also take this opportunity to talk to them on a level beyond just an employee/employer relationship. If you can have a conversation, and the chemistry is working out, then that is usually a good sign. You won’t gel with everyone, so even if they look great on paper, they might not be who you are looking for.

There is a lot to consider when you are hiring in a smaller company, the wrong person can really shake things up so remember to hire slow, fire fast. If they don’t fit in or the balance isn’t right to protect your current staff and business.

Technology has created tools that can do more than we can imagine. Every entrepreneur needs these tools. But startup founders need them most.

Even though there are lots of premium and expensive tools, start-up founders might not afford them. For this reason, we combined a list of tools that are free or affordable.

From research, companies that used data-analytics tools experienced over four times growth of revenues within one year. Is it possible for startups to be part of the success stories within a year?

Use these tools to expand your online business.

1. Google Analytics: Surprisingly, there have been complains about poor user interface of Google products. Analytics is one of them. For you to make good use from this platform, you have to forget about the interface. And learn to use the tool.

In many cases, it’s not about the platform, but how you use the platform. Google analytics is a tool that helps you understand your customers. So you can analyze data, and do data-driven marketing. With data, small tweaks can make a huge difference. Let’s say you are doing keyword research. You might suspect that your customers are using certain keywords. But you may be wrong. Analytics will reveal the search volume of each keyword. So you can get keywords with low competition and high search volume.

2. Social Media.

From Facebook, Twitter, to Instagram, social media is rapidly shaping the way we do things today. With facebook, advertisers have a cheaper option of running cheaper Ads. Since social media has over 1 Billion active users, businesses have access to a global audience.

There are two primary functions of social media. First, listening to your customers. And then advertising through social media marketing.

If you have are running a B2C business, chances are that customers will use social media to inquire about your products. It can be through direct messages, tweets, or posts that tag you. Startup founders need social media managers to respond to every query. Additionally, you need to write Ads that convert, and target your specific audience. While today’s business operations are done digitally, it’s still a good idea to keep some well designed company letterhead in stock for the old fashion way of customer communications.

3. Email: email marketing is one of the most convenient ways a businesses can use to close deals. Startup founders need to understand the buyer’s journey. Startups should have a website. Usually a niche website or an ecommerce website. Be sure to use a website you can monetize. The website will have a blog section that keeps the customer aware about your product, and how it solves their problem. You can then make lead magnets to capture emails and other important information about your prospects. From there, you’ll have permission to ask your customers whether you should send them promotional emails. That’s where email marketing begins. If you have a list of 30,000 prospects and a $500 product, you can make $300,000. That works if you meet the average conversion rate of 2.78%. And this can be done over a period of one year.

Infusionsoft: Infusionsoft is a software that allows one to personalize their marketing campaigns. The software has automated workflows, payment integrations like Paypal and credit cards. Startup founders can use Infusionsoft for businesses.

For you to expand, you need to know the power of FREE. So infusionsoft allows you to influence a customer by giving a free product. It can be a webinar, guide, report, or a book. Thereafter, you’ll have the customer’s information. And with this information, you can do marketing segmentation. Just grouping your email list based on certain metrics.

Asana: What was the last time you worked in a team? How were the results? Asana is a project management platform that allows one to assign tasks to team members. One can follow on deadlines, get reminders, and even attach relevant files. Begin by planning, prioritizing, and setting reasonable deadlines.

To-Do lists work. And Asana will definitely help you do that. Start-ups can find their desired plans from it’s main website.

Salesforce.

Startups can also expand by maintaining their customer relationships. Salesforce is a dynamic platform that will assist you to do that. Salesforce offers training to people who can be administrators, developers and consultants. One can make ecommerce apps on the cloud platform.

Woocommerce: WordPress ecommerce allows startups to sell products online. Startups can do drop shipping using the Woocommerce plugin on wordpress. It’s affordable and scalable. Startups won’t worry about the availability of stock. So besides selling your products through Woocommerce, you can use leverage to expand your business.

Here are a few factors to consider when selecting the tools you use. Because not all tools work for all types of businesses.

Your budget. Make sure that the tool you are paying for is affordable, and only takes a small fraction of your profits.

When using project management tools, make sure you hit deadlines. Also, do not forget to track results.

Type of business. For instance, Woocommerce only works for businesses that sell products. So it helps startups sell products online.

Over 53% of businesses use these tools to expand their businesses. And they can’t be wrong. Startup founders should consider using any of these to expand their businesses.

When you’re running your business, you do need to think about the website. Online, this will be the home platform for your company. Everything should be rerouted or redirected through your business website if you want to kick your company into high gear. This means that content should be posted on your site, even after it has appeared and been promoted on social media. As well as plenty of content promotion, you also need to think about keeping clients and customers updated too. You should be providing them with all the information they need from your business direct from your website.

Great, but to maximize the potential of your business site, you also need to think about how to drive more traffic, grow your reach and connect with customers. Do you think this is going to be difficult? Well, it can be but if you have several vital skills then you should have no issues at all getting the results you want here. So, let’s explore each of these individually and make sure that you know why these are crucial.

Social Communication

As you might have expected, this largely relates to using social media the right way. Social media can be a very powerful tool for any business owner and will help you drive more traffic to your site if you use it correctly. To do this, you need to understand that there are different strengths and weaknesses for each social network that you could use.

This includes the favorites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and more. While some of these are best suited for B2B companies – Facebook – others are far more beneficial for business owners who are marketing to general consumers – Instagram. This is because Instagram provides a better avenue for releasing image content which is more interesting and exciting to customers. Your industry, sector, or target audience will also impact which social media source will be right for you. For instance, you need to consider where the key influencers in your industry are. This is where the main brunt of your campaign should be focused.

Once you decide on a place to play, you then need to utilize the social profile effectively. It’s best to follow the eighty, twenty rule here with only twenty percent of posts or content being direct promotion for your brand. Of course, gaining attention through social media isn’t just about posting. That’s the easy part. You need to select a tone, maintain a level of consistency with your posts, ensuring that everything you publish adds rather than detracts from your business brand.

As well as this, you must work on effectively communicating with users and customers through social media too. So, for instance, you should think about UGC or user-generated content. This is a great way to get users on your side while also bringing more to the fold. Remember, users are more likely to trust content promotion from another user compared to content directly from your business.

Know SEO

Next, let’s consider the impact of SEO or search engine optimization. Regardless of whether you are running an ecommerce shop, a blog or a full business website, you probably have some understanding of SEO. If you don’t it’s imperative this changes otherwise you will not see the level of response that you hoped for in terms of growth and of course traffic. There are various aspects of SEO that you should consider. It is not one factor of your website but instead several that overlap and interlink.

As an example, you must make sure that your site is optimized for mobile use to ensure a high ranking. Many and quite possibly most of users will now access your website through a mobile device and there is now a Google mobile first index system in place. This means that Google will index a mobile version of your site rather than a desktop if you have one which is critical and could provide you the competitive advantage.

As well as this, you also need to consider how to build your site effectively. Website structure plays a massive part on whether your business will see high levels of traffic. A great structure will ensure that customers and clients can find what they are searching for from your business. The general rule here is to make sure that customers are only ever three clicks away from what they are looking to purchase or invest in. You might wonder how this could impact SEO when these individuals will already have discovered your site. Well, issues such as a high bounce rate could pull your ranking right down. Nothing will make a user click off faster than being unable to find what they were searching for.

Creating Content

You also need to be able to create fantastic content that is targeted and that your clients or customers love. You might think that creating content is about following a strict set of rules but this is not quite true. After all how could it be when if you did this, you would be stuck with content that looked like it came out of a cookie cutter.

The trick then is to instead mix up the content and provide users with plenty of different options and possibilities. That means you should have images, videos, text and much more. When creating text, make sure you provide both snappy short posts and something with a little more bulk or substance that they can really sink their teeth into.

One of the greatest challenges of writing content is often knowing what to write. First, you need to know what customers are searching for with your website. You can use analytics to discover the keywords that customers use when they discover your site and then build content around these words or phrases. If you’re looking for an angle, searching this key phrase in Google and examine the content that the SERPs provide carefully. Craft something similar with a little more punch and pizazz and you should find that your business does climb higher in the rankings. This will help your traffic grow. You could even target FAQs related to the targeted keywords or queries.

Web Design

You need to think about what clients think of your site once they reach it. Positive reviews and great first impressions is the only way to see tremendous levels of website growth. This means you need a great website design. While it can be tempting to simply focus on a template, save money and build from there, this is a mistake. It will mean that putting your website in focus will be a struggle. Instead, you need to build a web design from scratch that provides a strong platform for your business and links beautifully to the individual brand. If you can’t do this, it’s always worth hiring a professional to help.

Headline Creation

Last but not least, you need to focus on creating killer headlines that really catch the attention of your users. It’s important that you immediately grab their interest and headlines or titles are the best way to do this, even beyond choosing the right image.

The key thing to remember here is that article titles need to have all the information users need, show clearly what your content or page is about and provide an irresistible hook. If you succeed in ticking off all the boxes here then you will see fantastic levels of views and indeed shares for any piece of content, assuming it reaches a high quality.

We hope you find this find this information useful and that it provides you with all the tools you need to grow your website.

Reaching out to millennials is a smart move. Apart from only boosting your customer base, it helps to modernize the business. Plus, it’s a fantastic boost in many ways. Did you know they spend 25 hours a week online? Considering a digital presence is a huge part of a successful, 21st-century company, they may be your target audience.

However, to target them isn’t a walk in the park. They expect a lot and will bounce if they don’t get it. Here are four things to concentrate on if you’re interested in the millennial vote.

Mobile Payment Options

Because they use their phones a lot, they’re not going to put them down in the store. Instead, the majority of millennials use cells to supplement the shopping experience. For example, they’ll use an app to make a payment rather than taking out cash or pulling out a card. It’s quicker, easier, and less hassle. Therefore, an Apple and Android credit card reader is essential. Otherwise, they’ll find the process difficult and go elsewhere as a result. Thankfully, plenty of point of sale systems use this technology so it shouldn’t be too hard to incorporate it into the store or online.

Social Media Convos

A massive 63% of millennials stay up to date with their favorite brands via social media. Without Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat, your business isn’t part of the conversation. So, a myriad of account is vital if you’re going to reach out to them through a variety of platforms. However, it isn’t only about brand awareness; customer service is important too. 35% of the demographic prefer to communicate via social media. Those that aren’t live on the platforms won’t be able to interact and figure out what they want. In fact, there’s no need to work it out because they’ll tell you if you ask. Millennials are empowered that way.

Pricing

It’s the most important thing to 62% of millennials, so it’s wise to keep it in mind. In essence, they want something affordable which is of a high-quality. If they get it, 70% of people said they would be likely to stay loyal because the brand plays a big part in their life. What this means is that it may be better to appeal to millennials as long-term partners. Lowering the rate a little in the beginning will get them on board for the future, and then you can begin to cash in.

Morality

Although the price is the main factor, there is still their morality to consider. Millennials don’t like products or services that harm the planet as they are environmentally-conscious. They call it “woke.” Nobody wants to feel guilty about enjoying a materialistic lifestyle, and that’s why it’s savvy to green the supply chain where possible. Go into partnership with eco-friendly suppliers and let people know. Millennials will be more likely to use your services as a result because their conscience will be clear.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is the stuff they seem to find the most important. Provide them to millennials and they reward you with their custom.

Have your sales slumped? Are you struggling to entice new customers? Have you noticed that existing clients seemed to have slipped off the radar? If your sales figures have stalled, it’s time to take action.

Analyze and evaluate your marketing strategy

There’s no use in having the most brilliant idea or the most fantastic products if you don’t market your business effectively. You need to get your company noticed and ensure that consumers are aware of exactly what you do. If your sales have slowed and analytics show that your campaign isn’t having the desired effect, it’s time to think about how you can improve your strategy, reach your target market and encourage them to take the all-important next step and place an order. If you don’t have expertise in marketing, it’s worth seeking advice and assistance from an experienced firm with a proven track record, such as Rapid Growth Marketing. Marketing experts can identify issues with your current campaigns, suggest improvements and add features that will enhance your performance and deliver results. If you’re falling short, you may be missing the mark when it comes to targeting the right consumers, or you might be relying on the wrong techniques and platforms.

Get people talking

Many businesses find it difficult to maintain the interest of their clients after a product or website launch, a corporate event or the introduction of a new service. At the time, there’s a buzz around the business, but all too often, everything goes quiet quite quickly. To keep sales buoyant, you need to keep people interested. One of the best ways to do this is by offering deals and discounts. Share details of special offers and promotions on your social media, and encourage your followers to like and pass on your posts. Dropping prices or offering a freebie with every purchase, for example, could be just what you need to bring in new customers and keep those who have shopped with you before on board. If you do plan to run a promotion, make sure you’re ready. If you’re giving away products, for example, ensure you have plenty of stock, and make sure your adverts and social media posts specify that the offer is only available until stocks last.

Make improvements

Nothing is perfect, and in business, there’s always room for improvement. Use customer feedback and reviews to make changes to your products and services. If customers at your restaurant have suggested opening earlier and serving brunch, for example, and you’re keen to go ahead, trial the service at the weekends, and advertise it online, on your website and in the local community. Even simple changes, like offering a new flavor or a different size of a best-selling product can make a huge difference.

If you’re having trouble making sales or there’s been a lack of interest in your products or services of late, now is the time to start trying to turn things around. Focus on improving your marketing strategy, drum up interest by running promotions and be prepared to make improvements to impress new and existing clients.

We all know that using the internet to our advantage is one of the surest ways for us to launch a brand successfully. A digital presence is incredibly strong when used correctly, but it takes a lot of planning, research and a well-executed strategy in order to make the most of the internet.

In this post, we’re going to look at four ways that a strong online presence can grow your brand, expand your business and ultimately help you succeed in the competitive world of business.

Websites are like virtual storefronts

The first encounter a customer has with your company is going to be the first impression they have and, much like in other areas of life, first impressions count. A website acts much like a virtual storefront; it’s your first encounter with a business (outside of perhaps their social media accounts) and the way it’s presented will make a lasting impression. This is why it’s crucial that you make a website that’s informative, well-designed, coherent and fits on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure a great customer experience.

Social media is huge

Social media is one area where you can spend little capital for big gains. With the exception of hiring a social media manager, it’s one area where you spend little money for a huge competitive advantage–assuming you know how to use it. Some crucial social media marketing steps include understanding your audience, being consistent with social media and also latching on to trends whenever possible. It’s also about increasing engagement with your customers to show that you listen and are willing to interact with them.

Word of mouth is powerful

The internet is a place used by billions of people around the world. While you might only realistically target a small portion of those users, there’s nothing that physically prevents them from purchasing something from you as long as they know your website. However, exposing your website to them involves spreading the word, hence why word of mouth marketing is so strong especially on the internet. All it takes is an organic backlink and suddenly you’re known to a completely new group of people that could continue to spread the word.

Staying competitive

One of the biggest reasons to have a comprehensive online presence strategy is because you need to stay competitive. There are many strategic IT consulting services that you can rely on to help you create a plan and stay competitive, but you need to understand that success in this area doesn’t build up overnight. Instead, it’s all about staying consistent, adapting to trends and understanding the audience that you’ve built. Without knowledge about your customers, it becomes incredibly difficult to make sense of the internet and how it can become such a huge driving force that promotes your brand to new audiences.

At the end of the day, a strong online presence can benefit you in many different ways. Although it can be expensive at times, it’s also crucial to have and a worthwhile investment.